Bruce and Annie Knowlan have enjoyed the outdoors all their lives. Growing up in Minnesota, they frequented the lakes in the northern part of the state to enjoy the summers, and each autumn they traveled to the South Dakota prairies to enjoy the bounty of the fall migration.

They so appreciated the prairie pothole region, along with the friendly farmers and ranchers in north east South Dakota, they decided to purchase their own a piece of paradise. Many fall seasons and longtime relationships have been enjoyed since they purchased the land. They restored both upland and wetland habitats and enrolled those acres into long-term conservation programs. Bruce and Anne have shared their land with many family members and outdoor enthusiasts, and now they plan to leave this treasured place to Ducks Unlimited to ensure it will be protected and passed on to future generations.

In 2017, Bruce attended a DU “Evening of Conservation” event in Aberdeen South Dakota, where he discovered the difference Ducks Unlimited is making on the landscape and how he can become a part of DU conservation mission. Bruce and Annie have made two major donor gifts since that event and intend to give their land in South Dakota to DU through their estate plans.

If you are interested in becoming a major donor or discussing gifts of land to enhance Ducks Unlimited’s conservation efforts in South Dakota, contact Director of Development Terry Kostinec, tkostinec@ducks.org (605) 760-5791 or Director of Gift Planning, Chris Cole, ccole@ducks.org (601) 259-0669

Benefits of gifts of real estate

• Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of the real estate

• Receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the value of the gift

• Leave a lasting legacy to Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

• The land is used as a match for new public grants, providing a larger conservation footprint